Event lands in Athens

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Event lands in Athens102605 sports13Athens Banner-Herald"The future plays here."--> Event lands in Athens New tourney will be played next April By Matt Cobbs | matthew.cobbs@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 12:15 AM on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 "The future plays here."

That's the motto of the Nationwide Tour, a developmental golf circuit owned and operated by the PGA Tour. Starting next year, it will do just that - play here.

The inaugural Athens Regional Foundation Classic will take place from April 20-23 at Jennings Mill Country Club. The tournament will offer a $500,000 purse with all profits going to the Athens Regional Foundation (ARF).

The announcement was made Tuesday at a news conference held at Athens Regional Medical Center.

"This is a big event that will a big impact on our community," said Len Sapera, chairman of the ARF. "We're expecting an ecomonic impact of $5 million for the area."

The Nationwide Tour began in 1990 as the Ben Hogan Tour, became the Nike Tour in 1993 and the Buy.com Tour in 2000, before Nationwide took over as title sponsor in 2002. Former circuit players have gone on to win 173 PGA Tour titles, including 10 major championships.

Players such as John Daly, Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els, Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk and David Toms all played on the Nationwide Tour. Georgia Bulldogs who competed on the tour include Ryuji Imada, Franklin Langham, Chip Beck, Nick Cassini, Erik Compton, Bryant Odom and Tim Simpson.

Matt Peterson, the head professional at the University of Georgia Golf Club, played on the Nationwide Tour for 11 years.

"I think the players are going to love Athens," he said. "It is very similar to other top spots on the tour."

Jennings Mill, the host course, is a Bob Cupp-designed, 6,924-yard layout that plays to a par 72. The course bares resemblance to a Scottish links, with pot bunkers and strategically placed mounds abundant around the layout.

"All the elements really came together in creating this tournament," said Bill Calfee, chief of operations for the Nationwide Tour. "Of course, you need a great course; but it also takes a local host organization, title sponsor and strong community support."

Calfee said the idea of bringing a tournament to Athens began about two years ago. The Athens Regional Foundation Classic fills a much-sought spring slot on the Nationwide Tour schedule. The $500,000 purse is about par for the tour, with the highest '05 offering being $750,000 at the LaSalle Bank Open in Glenview, Ill.

The initial contract has a four-year term.

"We'd like to be here for the next 20-30 years," Calfee said. "It's going to be a great event for everybody."